Page 73 of Marked

“I’ve got her.”

A silhouette emerged from the smoke, followed by several more. All of their hands were raised in surrender, even before multiple guns slid from their holsters.

“No.” Lanie stood up, arms spread wide, putting her body between us and Zakhar Vlaschenko.That’s one, LittleLamb.“They aren’t the bad guys here. Well, not completely.”

“Lanie.” Waverly shook her head. “Can we get the hell out of the burning building first? Then we can discuss everything else.”

“Uh, guys?” Koen was backing slowly away from a stack of crates. “I found some of the C-4 the DEA lost.”

“Yeah?” I questioned.

“It’s attached to another bomb, set to detonate in five minutes.”

“Shit. Everyone out. Now,” Duncan ordered.

Zakhar leaned over, scooping up the woman off the floor while I grabbed Lanie's hand, and we ran for the second time.

I really fucking hated explosives.

“It’s not that simple. He kidnapped a federal officer.”

Lanie and Waverly were in a standoff and had been most of the morning. We’d spent the majority of the night explaining our actions to a room full of highly pissed-off government officials. Zakhar and his men were initially placed into custody at the scene, then later released. Up to this point, no official arrests had been made, and with the amount of money and influence he had, there probably wouldn’t be. That didn’t mean Waverly wouldn’t try.

“I’m fully aware, since I’m the federal officer in question.”

“Then you know he can’t just get away with it.”

I didn’t know whose side I was supposed to be on. A few hours ago, it would have been my RAC’s without a doubt.Now though, after watching Vlaschenko growl at the doctors and refuse to leave Miss Turner’s side since we arrived at the hospital, I was vacillating. He was in love. I knew the symptoms well.

“That man in there riskedeverythingto save Pru. I will not be a party to his prosecution.”

“What are you saying?” Waverly crossed her arms over her chest.

“No victim. No crime.” Lanie matched her pose

“Is this really the hill you wanna die on?”

No response.

“Fine, but if he turns out to be a mass murderer, that shit’s on you.” Waverly spun on her heel, then called out as she made her way down the hallway. “Duncan’s in charge. I’ll be out of the country for the next three weeks.”

“Which one did you decide on, Waverly?”

“Curaçao.” She waved a hand in the air.

“It’s finally over.” Lanie fell against my chest.

Three dead, including Machail Bolotov, which meant it was indeed over. His other three goons got away, but according to Zakhar, they didn’t pose a threat. Besides some minor cuts and burns, the only other injury was to Prudence. Four broken ribs, too many lacerations and bruises to count, but the worst was a nasty infection in her leg. The doctor said it would take weeks of high-dose antibiotics and even then he couldn’t be certain if it would heal. She had a long road ahead, which didn’t even count the amount of time it would take for her to recover emotionally. If she ever did. I had a feeling she wouldn’t be alone though.

“You ready to go home, Darlin’?”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

Pulling out my phone, I sent a text to Koen and Keaton.

Me: Can we catch a ride with one of you?

Koen: Hell yes. I need outta this room.

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